The second Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Education Summit hosted by Loyola Marymount University took a multi-layered consideration of the nexus of business and higher education. A series of panel discussions approached the parallel needs of business and education, exploring the ways each could benefit the other following the theme “Paradigm Shift: Meeting the Workforce Needs of the Future.”
“The more robust sectors of the economy require an educated workforce,” said Tony Thurmond, the California superintendent of Public Instruction. “We have a tremendous opportunities and resources” in public education, “and we look forward to working closely with you.” Thurmond, who gave the opening address, was introduced by Maria S. Salinas, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
The first panel, “Building Impactful Partnerships: Business and Education Insights,” featured a moderated conversation between LMU President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., and Jen Prince, chief commercial officer for the Los Angeles Rams. The focus of their talk was the partnership between the L.A. Rams and LMU, which has resulted in dozens of internship opportunities for students and provided community engagement for the Rams.
Prince and Snyder agreed that clearly communicating goals and objectives, and sharing core values, were key to an impactful partnership. Prince added that “authenticity” and a symbiosis has made the relationship durable. Snyder stressed that the dynamics of the relationship relied on each partner being flexible, “able to change course, frequently, of course.”
Salinas explained the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s commitment to shaping the workforce of tomorrow by fostering innovation and collaboration between business and education. “At this year’s Education Summit, we emphasized the need for strong partnerships to prepare students for the evolving job market,” she said. “Partnerships similar to the one between Loyola Marymount University and the Los Angeles Rams are the examples of what’s needed to build a workforce pipeline which supports a growing economy.”
The second panel, “Educators’ Perspectives on Workforce Readiness,” was moderated by Dean Estela Zarate of the LMU School of Education and included Dean Eric Bullard of the UCLA Division of Continuing Education and Extension, President Ann McElaney-Johnson of Mount St. Mary’s University, and Superintendent Matthew Wunder of Da Vinci Schools.
“It is clear that the workforce needs are changing at lightning speed – too fast for us to continue to work in silos,” said Zarate. “More than ever, industry and university-school partnerships are crucial to providing the type of education our students need.”
The third panel, “Shaping the Future: Workforce Trends,” focused on the types of jobs and professions that students could be directed toward. The panel was moderated by Mark Louchheim, chair and CEO of Bobrick Washroom Equipment, and included Mauritz deRidder, CEO of Beech Systems, Adel Villalobos, president and CEO of Lief Labs, and Chander Arora, biotech program director in the Life Sciences Department of Los Angeles Mission College.
“The conversations reiterated the importance of higher education institutions reinventing their programs,” said Zarate. “Higher education institutions in the U.S. do a great job at moving the disciplines forward, at innovating solutions to world’s biggest problems. Now, it is important to look inward and think about how we can innovate how we teach.”
